Pilgrim badge of St Eloi: Late 13th century

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Pilgrim badge of St. Eloi. This badge shows St Eloi on the left, hammering on an anvil. On the right are a horse and a pilgrim giving St Eloi a trindle, a coiled candle. Above is a misspelt inscription: "ELIGIUS". St Eloi was a French saint, born around 588. He became Bishop of Noyon and Tournai, and converted many people to Christianity. He was also supposed to have been a highly skilled farrier who could remove a horse's leg, shoe it, and put it back on! Medieval people were sometimes 'measured for a candle', which meant that a piece of string that was as long as they were tall was turned into a trindle and offered to a saint in return for a favour. Evidence suggests candles were on sale at St Eloi's shrine in Noyon.